Corbin Burnes won’t start in Diamondbacks’ opening series vs. Cubs, Lovullo says

Diamondbacks ace Corbin Burnes will not start in the opening series as Arizona hosts the Chicago Cubs for a four-game slate beginning Thursday, Torey Lovullo told reporters on Sunday.

The manager called it an error on his part for not knowing Burnes’ level of reliance on routine given how his spring starts put him on track to start Opening Day.

Torey Lovullo blames himself for Corbin Burnes not starting until the Dbacks fifth game of the season.

Here's his full explanation on the scheduling mishap.

"I was really suffering through this whole process because I wanted to do what's right by the player."@12SportsAZ pic.twitter.com/eybVqDU7eJ

— Jake García (@Jake_M_Garcia) March 23, 2025

When Zac Gallen was announced as the first starter and not Burnes, the latter told reporters on Friday he’d have another outing this spring but wasn’t initially sure when. Lovullo on Sunday said he will pitch in a backfield game on Wednesday.

“Corbin is that important to me and this organization that I wanted to listen to him,” Lovullo said. “And we listen to our athletes here and he made it loud and clear that through that partnership, this is what was most important to him. He’s an elite human being, he’s an elite pitcher with an elite routine that I don’t want to get in the way of. So I could have said, ‘You have to,’ it’s just not what I believe in.”

His current track would put his regular-season team debut on April 1 at the New York Yankees, where he has pitched twice previously while with the Milwaukee Brewers and Baltimore Orioles. He gave up just one earned run across 13 innings (0.69 ERA) with 16 strikeouts and three walks.

Gallen and Merrill Kelly would likely round out the series in New York.

The ace would then be on track to make his home debut on April 12 after starting two on the road (at Washington Nationals on April 6).

Burnes saw his first blemish this spring in Friday’s outing when he allowed seven earned runs on 11 hits in 2.2 innings (75 pitches). He carried a 1.35 ERA and 0.98 WHIP over his previous five spring starts (10.1 innings).

Who will pitch for Diamondbacks in opening series vs. Cubs?

– Opening Day, Thursday, March 27: RHP Zac Gallen

– Friday, March 28: RHP Merrill Kelly

– Saturday, March 29: RHP Brandon Pfaadt

– Sunday, March 30: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez

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